A Marin restaurant that consistently held a spot on my list of favorites was Osteria Divino in Sausalito. Elizabeth Nebot, who owned it for 20 years, was as much a part of its identity as the food and nighttime jazz, connecting with customers at the restaurant and her vendors at the San Rafael farmers market, where she was often found scoping out ingredients.
The restaurant closed earlier this year as Nebot battled cancer, and her death in March was felt deeply throughout the local community and beyond.
Now, a fellow fan and close friend of Nebot’s, Jaxton Funk, a San Francisco bartender and bar manager who lives in an apartment above the Caledonia Street restaurant, is partnering with veteran San Francisco bar owner Johnny “Love” Metheny to continue Nebot’s legacy. They will open Notte Divino on July 24 with a celebration honoring Nebot — details below.
“I walked past it every day and saw firsthand how much it meant to the neighborhood,” Funk said. “When the opportunity came to help carry it forward, the goal was never to erase what people loved. The goal was to honor it. Elizabeth created something truly special.”
The interior of Notte Divino in Sausalito. (Photo by Matt Spinetta/Prismic Photography)
Chef Yovani Castillo, who has spent the past 12 years in the Osteria Divino kitchen, is returning and will keep much of the original menu intact.
The house-made focaccia with dipping oil, oven-baked fennel topped with Parmigiano-Reggiano and Brussels sprouts with butternut squash, crispy pancetta, spinach, brown butter and sage remain.
Gnocchi are made in-house, and fresh pastas are featured in lasagna layered with braised beef ragù and bechamel; bucatini with lamb sausage in spicy tomato sauce; and penne scampi with shrimp, curry, brandy, tomatoes and cream.
Entrees include filet mignon with peppercorn cream sauce, whole Mediterranean branzino and Tuscan seafood soup with mussels, clams, calamari and shrimp.
Funk says a bigger change ahead is a shift from classic to craft cocktails and later hours, a natural transition given his and Metheny’s bar backgrounds.
Metheny comes to Sausalito by way of San Francisco’s nightlife scene as owner of the Blue Light and Toy Soldier and a partner in Buena Vida Cantina and Ranch Water in San Rafael. Funk is a district manager and handles social media for Metheny’s other businesses.
“We’re building on a strong foundation,” Metheny said. “Guests can expect the restaurant they know and love while discovering an exciting cocktail culture, live music and a place that stays vibrant well into the evening.”
Burrata Salad at Notte Divino in Sausalito. (Photo by Matt Spinetta/Prismic Photography)
The signature cocktail list is still being finalized, but confirmed drinks include an Italian Sour, a riff on a New York Sour made with whiskey, egg whites, fresh lemon and demerara syrup and topped with Lambrusco. Another is the Serpente & Furore, made with green Chartreuse, gin, elderflower liqueur, fresh lime and cucumber. The wine list focuses on southern Italian-style grape varietals with a mix of other imports.
Funk says they plan to sustain and grow the relationships Nebot cultivated with the jazz community, with several regular performers expected to return for weekend shows.
Negroni at Notte Divino in Sausalito. (Photo by Matt Spinetta/Prismic Photography)
The interior has been largely untouched except for some paint touch-ups, and the team plans to continue to host local artists’ work on the walls in the spirit of Nebot’s support of the community.
Notte Divino will be open from 5 p.m. to midnight Sundays through Thursdays and 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays at 37 Caledonia St. in Sausalito. The kitchen will close at 10 p.m.
The July 24 grand opening is dedicated to Nebot, with optional donations benefiting UCSF cancer research. A ribbon cutting with the mayor is at 5:15 p.m., followed by a mixer featuring complimentary tastes of the menu, a live jazz trio and cocktails available for purchase.
View the menu, reserve a table or inquire about hosting private parties and events at nottedivinosausalito.com.
Leanne Battelle is a freelance food writer and restaurant columnist. Email her at ij.lbattelle@gmail.com or follow The Real Deal Marin at therealdealmarin.com for more on local food news.